Our Keeper

Have you ever traveled through a dense area where the trees and undergrowth was so dense you hardly knew where you had been and where you were going. Then unexpectedly, the road opened up to an opening dotted with beautiful flowers and soothing and refreshing waters. This describes mine and Mister Bill's favorite resort; the thought of it right now makes me homesick for it. That long winding narrow overgrown trek through the jungle makes me think of how the journey of life. Difficult seasons filled with troubles can leave us dry and longing for an ... oasis - a green area fed by natural flowing waters giving shade and rest to weary travelers. One of my Mom's favorite passages was Psalm 121 where the psalmist declares his help comes from the LORD: "He will not let your foot be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber ... The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand ... The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life ... The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Verses 3-8 ESV). Wherever life's road goes - twisting, turning, curving, ascending, descending - God's children are always in His care and keeping. I find this truth particularly reassuring especially when life is overgrown with hurt, betrayal, and disappointment. God, our Keeper, is never surprised or blind-sided by anything: "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure." (Psalm 147:5). Yes, our omniscient (all-knowing) God longs to and is fully able to keep us. He is ... our Keeper.

Yes, I Will!

Something I've heard said from those who reach a certain age or season in life is this: "if I don't want to do it, I just don't it." This older-me has had the same sort of thoughts and [maybe on occasion] even acted accordingly. Now, I don't presume nor pretend to be a Bible scholar but I can't find any Scriptural foundation for that attitude! However, the very opposite seems to be what pleases God; David wrote, "I will give thanks and praise the LORD ... I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds ... I will rejoice and exult in You ... I will sing praise to Your Name." (Psalm 9:1-2 AMP). It is evident from David's words that he is determined to do these things, disciplined and determined even though he may not feel like it! Like David, the times of our lives are not always pleasant or easy; at every age and in every season, trouble is present. In those times, we usually prefer to grumble and complain and even question God. Only a few verses later, David writes: "The LORD also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You. For You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You." (Psalm 9:9-10 AMP). When we don't-want-to is exactly the time to do what is pleasing to God! The memory of God's eternal goodness and faithful presence is good exercise and is enough to overcome the I-don't-want-to-do-it attitude. With David's determination, let us seek The LORD and say ... yes, I will!

The Upholder

Structural supports are barely noticed - things such as beams and joists, columns and pillars. We confidently walk underneath them, giving no thought to the danger should they fail to do what they do. Life has a way of crashing and crushing us; it is compounded when the crash and crush comes and you never saw it coming; sometimes it causes overwhelming hurt and disappointment. The silent suffering can become so heavy it seems too much to bear. For every circumstance God says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV). Perhaps there are no more trustworthy words than "I will uphold you." Furthermore, He promises His continual Presence, His strength and His help ... as He upholds us! When we feel betrayed - He upholds us. When the hurt is deep and long - He upholds us. Similarly, as those structural supports provide strength and protection, God's right hand - His perfect strength - keeps us. We can trust in and rely on this truth - God has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). For His children, God is and will always be ... The Upholder.

Student of The Word

What delivers relaxation to you? For me, I've loved floating in a pool or swinging in a porch swing. The younger-busier me struggled to find time for those things; now, the older and less busy me fails to make the time to do them. It seems at every age and season of life, there are choices! The outcome of choices we make are rarely fully realized the moment we first make them. Twenty-eight years ago I, like Ezra (7:10), "set my heart" to study the Word of God. At age forty, I had "read" lots of Scripture, heard many sermons, memorized tons of verses but had taken little time to "study" God's Word. "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130 ESV). Like peeling back the petals of a rose in full bloom releases its richest fragrance, so is a deeper understanding of the heart of God revealed when we do more than just read-the-words - study, dig deeper into the words truest meaning. I've often repeated this: "the Bible is the only book you'll ever read where the Author is always present." Let me encourage you to do more than just "read" God's Word - let God's words soak into your heart, mind, soul, every fabric of your being. As you do this, you're no longer just a reader - you're a ... student of The Word!

He Sees Me!

Are you sometimes troubled with the notion that no one knows nor cares about your troubles? A famous slavery-era spiritual goes, "nobody knows the trouble I've seen," - words we are also tempted to sing! Psalm 33:13 says, "The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man." Although we may forget, God is never detached from any circumstance or situation we are in! Consider His judgment on the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah: before He judged their sin, He made a personal visit and extended grace to the righteous! We may joke about it but according to Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7, God numbers the very hairs of our head. That's not the move of one who doesn't care! Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Think not that God sits on high taking no account of thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee." Yes, the eyes of The Father look upon the whole earth, giving strength to His saints (2 Chronicles 16:9). That old spiritual song continues: "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen - Nobody knows but Jesus." How comforting and encouraging it is to know we are never alone nor are we out of the knowledge of, care and keeping of our all-knowing Father. "Oh! then repeat the truth that never tires - No God is like the God m soul desires - He at whose voice heaven trembles even He - Great as He is, knows how to stoops to me." Our God is El Roi ... He sees me!